Women’s Soccer News: All 52 matches Televised on FOX Sports
FOX Sports and the networks of 21st Century Fox mark the beginning of FOX Sports’ FIFA Women’s World Cup™ 2015 coverage by launching an unprecedented, company-wide multi-platform marketing initiative.
“The FIFA Women’s World Cup this June is going to re-ignite all the passion and fervor so many Americans experienced this past summer during the men’s World Cup,” said Robert Gottlieb, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Head of Marketing. “All the excitement and buzz is about to take hold again, and we’re expecting the Women’s World Cup to be the can’t-miss sports and pop- culture moment of the summer”.
Weather-Controlled Digital Billboards – February 24th thru 28th, 15-second ads ran 24/7 on digital billboards in Times Square and LA Live that depict the USWNT training for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ with the theme, “They’re getting ready. Are you?” The digital boards showed the team training in current weather conditions, so if the current weather was night-time snow in Times Square, the ad running showed the team training at night in snowy conditions.
FOXSPORTS.com Home Page – February 24th thru 28th the campaign took over the FOXSPORTS.com home page with the same messaging as the digital billboard and.
Customized Graphics – On Feb. 24 a“100 Days to the FIFA Women’s World Cup™” animated logo/bug was designed and appeared on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2 all day.
Program Integration – Regular newsbreaks are a trademark on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2 throughout each day, and on Feb. 24 they began promoting “100 Days,” while all studio shows plan special promotional messaging with featured WWC countdown content.
Digitally – All games are available on tablets and mobile devices via the FOX Sports GO app and online.
Classic FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Encore Telecasts – On Tuesday, Feb. 24, FOX Sports 1 televised three classic FIFA Women’s World Cup™ matches featuring the USWNT:
1. FIFA Women’s World Cup™ 1999 Final – the U.S. won its last title in a 5-4 penalty shootout over China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, with Brandi Chastain’s winning kick providing the difference.
2. FIFA Women’s World Cup™ 2011 Quarterfinal – a heavyweight battle between the USWNT and Brazil in which the U.S. prevailed 5-3 on penalty kicks after a riveting 120 minutes that featured the latest goal in World Cup history by Abby Wambach.
3. FIFA Women’s World Cup™ 2011 Final – an extremely hard-fought battle that was tied 2–2 after regulation and extra time led to Japan winning its first– ever World Cup title on penalty kicks.
No broadcast network has ever televised 16 FIFA Women’s or Men’s World Cup matches, and the 2015 event marks the first time since 2003 that any FIFA Women’s World Cup™ matches are scheduled for over-the-air broadcast in the U.S. Combining games with anticipated pregame, postgame and complementary programming, FOX Sports is expected to provide almost 200 hours of coverage from FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015™. Coverage begins with reports in AMERICA’S PREGAME and FOX SPORTS LIVE, Thursday, June 4, and a preview show on Friday, June 5.
Players and Coaches From Around The World, Gave Their Thoughts On This Year’s Group Stages:
U.S. Soccer star Alex Morgan joined as a guest analyst and shared her reaction to the draw:
“It’s pretty unbelievable. We knew this was going to happen. That’s why when you saw the reaction from the rest of the team in Brazil, they were laughing, because we knew it. We got the toughest countries in all of the pots, the strongest seeds. It’s definitely the group of death. We can’t count out any team.”
Former U.S. Soccer defender and three-time Olympic Gold medalist Heather Mitts added her thoughts on the group:
“To be the best, you have to beat the best. This group of death is very fitting for us. We always struggle against Sweden and Australia. I do think we will beat them, but Sweden is going to be a very tough match. Pia Sundhage (head coach of Sweden and former head coach of USWNT) knows how our team plays and she will be prepared.”
Legendary 1999 USWNT head coach Tony DiCicco also weighed in on-site from Ottawa:
“This is the worst case scenario for the USA because they are playing the best team from every pot.”
Two-time World Cup winner with Germany, Ariane Hingst, thinks Germany will come out on top of its group:
“No disrespect to the other teams, but you can easily say this is a really easy group for Germany to play. Ivory Coast and Netherlands are new names on the pitch. Norway is always hard to play, but Germany definitely has to come out as position one in this group. No doubt about that.”
Retired Mexican defender Monica Gonzalez said the Mexican Women’s National Team has to win next summer:
“What Mexico is looking to do at the very minimum is get a win in this group. Mexico has never gotten a win in a major tournament neither in the World Cup or the Olympics.”
USWNT head coach Jill Ellis joined the show from Ottawa post-draw:
“Overall it’s going to be a physically demanding group and I think that serves us well because we are deep. We are going to have to play very well to get out of there. I feel confident in the next six months to get this team primed and ready.”
England Women’s National Team all-time leading goal scorer Kelly Smith offered her thoughts on her former team’s match-ups:
“I think coach Mark Sampson will be quite happy with this group. He has brought in a lot of youth, vibrant players that want to do well. The team is in a good place, but we have a lot of work to do. Obviously you don’t want to lose the opening game against France, that will be tough.”
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